Romans 13

1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment.

3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on those who do what is wrong.

5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of this retribution, but also as a matter of conscience.

6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God, concerned with this very thing.

7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

For the commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not give false testimony," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You are to love your neighbor as yourself."

10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Love does not harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.

The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let us therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

Let us walk decently, as in the daytime; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and lustful acts, and not in dissension and jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.